CMS Preparing to Launch "Physician Compare" Website

Tags: CMS | Physician Compare | quality measures

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is looking for quality measures to use for a "Physician Compare" website it will launch by Jan. 1, 2011, enabling consumers to research and compare physicians, according to a Government Health IT news report.

The "Physician Compare" website, which is mandated by the healthcare reform law, will take after CMS' existing "Hospital Compare" website, which allows viewers to research and compare hospitals against price and quality factors. CMS will be using its "physician finder" directory as a base for the website.

CMS will initially post information about Medicare-enrolled physicians and physicians participating in the Physician Quality Reporting System. In Jan. 2013, CMS will add physician performance information based on 2012 quality reporting. CMS is required to include patient health outcomes gathered through PQRS on the website.

Healthcare providers have generally supported the use of performance metrics but also expressed some concern over the website, hoping the website will execute "responsible public reporting that is based on actionable, current, clinically sound, and scientifically valid reporting measures," said a representative of the American College of Cardiologists.

Read the Government Health IT news report about the Physician Compare website.

Read other coverage about quality reporting:

- CMS Proposes to Introduce Pay Penalties, Add 10 More Measures to Quality Reporting Program

- Web Site Launched to Report Performance Data for Illinois Hospitals, Surgery Centers

© Copyright ASC COMMUNICATIONS 2012. Interested in LINKING to or REPRINTING this content? View our policies by clicking here.